Surfactant-free cleaning compositions and processes for the use thereof

Abstract

Surfactant-free cleaning compositions are provided for use in removing soil and stains from fiber surfaces such as carpets, upholstery and the like as well as for preventing redeposition of soil and stains on such surfaces. Additionally, processes are provided for cleaning such soiled and/or stained fiber surfaces utilizing aqueous forms of such surfactant-free cleaning compositions having a surface tension of greater than about 38 dynes per centimeter.

1. A process for cleaning a fiber surface, comprising,
 applying to a stained or soiled area on the fiber surface an effective amount of an aqueous, surfactant-free cleaning composition having a surface tension of at least greater than 38 dynes per centimeter and comprising 
 a) a water-soluble polymeric dispersing agent; 
 b) a water-soluble polymeric and-redeposition agent; 
 c) a counter ion; 
 d) a chelating agent; 
 e) a fragrance material; 
 f) a fragrance solubilizing agent; and 
 g) a preservative agent. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the dispersing agent is polyacrylic acid; polyacrylic acid/maleic acid copolymers; polymethacrylic acid, polyaspartic acid or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-redeposition agent is polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyvinylbetaine; polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymers; polyvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate copolymers; polyvinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymers; polymethylvinylether/maleic anhydride copolymers; polyvinylpyridine-n-oxide or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the counter ion is the counter ion of sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions, ammonium ions, amine ions or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the chelating agent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; diethylenediaminepentaacetic acid; nitrilotriacetic acid; hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid; immunosuccinic acid; aminotrismethylenephosphonic acid; hexamethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid; diethylenetriaminepentamethylene-phosphonic acid or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fragrance material is terpenes, oxygenated terpene derivatives, oxygenated aromatic derivatives or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fragrance solubilizing agent is alcohols, glycol ethers or glycol ether esters. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of counter ion present in the cleaning composition is sufficient to maintain a pH range of about 5.0 to about 12.0 in the aqueous composition. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the preservative agent is 1,3-dihydroxymethyl-5-5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDM Hydantoin); 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate; phenoxyethanol; 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol; methyl paraben; propyl paraben; isopropyl paraben; butyl paraben; isobutyl paraben; diazolidinyl urea hydroxymethylglycinate or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       10. A method for cleaning a fiber surface, comprising,
 applying to a stained or soiled area on the fiber surface an effective amount of an aqueous, surfactant-tree cleaning composition comprising 
 a) a water-soluble polymeric dispersing agent; 
 b) a water-soluble polymeric anti-redeposition agent; 
 c) a counter ion; 
 d) a chelating agent; 
 e) a fragrance material; 
 f) a fragrance solubilizing agent; and 
 g) a preservative agent. 
 
     
     
       11. The method process of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-redeposicion agent is polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyvinylbetaine; polyvinyl pyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymers; polyvinylpyrrolidone/dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate copolymers; polyvinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymers; polymethylvinylether/maleic anhydride copolymers; polyvinylpyridine-n-oxide or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the counter ion is the counter ion of sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions, magnesium ions, ammonium ions, amine ions or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the chelating agent is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; diethylenediaminepentaacetic acid; nitrilotriacetic acid; hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetic acid; immunosuccinic acid; aminotrismethylenephosphonic acid; hexamethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid; diethylenetriaminepentamethylene-phosphonic acid or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fragrance material is terpenes, oxygenated terpene derivatives, oxygenated aromatic derivatives or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fragrance solubilizing agent is alcohols, glycol ethers or glycol ether esters. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the amount of counter ion present in the cleaning composition is sufficient to maintain a pH range of about 5.0 to about 12.0 in the aqueous composition. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the preservative agent is 1,3-dihydroxymethyl-5-5-dimethylhydantoin (DMDM Hydantoin); 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate; phenoxyethanol; 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol; methyl paraben; propyl paraben; isopropyl paraben; butyl paraben; isobutyl paraben; diazolidinyl urea hydroxymethylglycinate or mixtures thereof.